Rain County.
Lu Wuxie wound his way to the abandoned house.
He drew a dagger from his怀 and skillfully pried open the bolt, then opened the back door. He first poked his head inside to confirm it was safe before silently slipping in, closing the back door with a flick of his wrist, and hurrying towards the front yard.
As Ah Wu had said, the eaves of the house were half-collapsed, and the dilapidated remnants of a dragon skeleton hung from the eaves, emitting an unpleasant creak with the cool breeze after the rain.
Lu Wuxie's movements were swift, and in the blink of an eye, he was already in the front yard.
The ground was covered with *gua lou*, its vibrant green meeting his eyes. He felt a surge of joy, but he didn't rush to pick them. Instead, he circled the *gua lou* patch and the surrounding deserted house, confirming that there were *gua lou* in several courtyards nearby. Only then did he take out the shovel he had brought and begin to dig up the *gua lou* roots.
The *gua lou* roots were not deep. In just the time it took to brew two cups of tea, he had dug up two large chunks, which he wrapped in the cloth bundle he carried.
Just as he was about to continue digging, a light suddenly appeared, growing brighter as it approached.
Lu Wuxie was startled and threw the bundle of cloth over the wall with his backhand, then stood up, preparing to flee the abandoned house.
"Where does Your Highness intend to go?"
He had barely taken a few steps when clusters of lanterns, like will-o'-the-wisps, blocked his path. A strange voice sounded from behind him.
Lu Wuxie saw the black-clad figures behind the lanterns clearly and turned to face the man who was staring at his back with a half-smile.
It was none other than Cao Shao, the magistrate of Rain County, who had visited the inn two days prior to check on Zhong Li.
"So it's you?" Lu Wuxie sneered, a flicker of realization in his eyes.
Cao Shao first cupped his hands in a formal bow to Lu Wuxie, completing the official courtesy. Then, his expression turned cold as he said, "Guards, seize him."
Lu Wuxie's reaction was exceptionally sharp. As the men lunged at him, he sprinted towards Cao Shao.
Cao Shao, caught off guard by the man's formidable skills, shrieked and retreated repeatedly.
Just as Lu Wuxie's dagger was about to strike Cao Shao's shoulder blade, a shining silver weapon blocked the dagger's sharp point and, with a twist, lunged towards Lu Wuxie.
Lu Wuxie quickly retreated, his eyes registering the weapon's design – it was a judge's brush!
His expression deepened. He hurled the dagger in his hand at the black-clad man wielding the judge's brush, then forcefully flicked his sleeve, producing another dagger in his palm.
The black-clad man's reaction was also extremely swift. He dodged to the side and charged at Lu Wuxie again.
Cold moonlight and bloody light, a stern and deadly engagement.
The clash of weapons echoed in the desolate house. Lu Wuxie's agility and profound lightness skills were remarkable. Wherever his daggers passed, no one could escape alive.
He was like a berserk leopard, his every move vicious and fatal. Many of the enemy soldiers who had intended to overwhelm him with numbers stood trembling, their weapons held uncertainly, afraid to advance.
The black-clad man, holding the judge's brush, had managed to parry Lu Wuxie's four or five blows. However, his continuous retreat clearly showed signs of fatigue.
He frowned, looking at the man opposite him with confusion. He knew a great deal about Lu Wuxie, but had rarely seen him in such a violent frenzy. What had happened to make him suddenly like this?
As the black-clad man's thoughts drifted, he felt a sharp pain in his tiger's mouth. The judge's brush fell to the ground, and simultaneously, a dagger flashed with cold light towards his throat.
Damn it!
He spat, scrambling back towards the corner where Cao Shao stood. As the dagger pressed closer, its tip already tearing through his clothes and nearing the black veil on his face, Lu Wuxie's movement suddenly halted. With a *thump*, Lu Wuxie contorted to the ground in pain.
Everyone was stunned by this scene.
Cao Shao cautiously peered through the gaps in the black-clad man's body. Seeing the man on the ground groaning in pain, sweat beaded on his forehead, his face lit up. "Haha, as expected, the other poison in him was not resolved. Now, having inhaled a large amount of mist during the fight, the previous antidote's effects have worn off, and he's having an attack!"
As he spoke, he swaggered out from behind the black-clad man and delivered a forceful kick to Lu Wuxie's abdomen.
"Ugh..." A bead of sweat trickled down Lu Wuxie's forehead. He felt a searing pain in every bone. After Cao Shao's kick, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted.
"Hmph!" Cao Shao snorted, sweeping his gaze over his subordinates. "What are you all standing there for? Take him away!"
"Yes!" Hearing this, the men quickly dropped their weapons and began to bustle about.
When only Cao Shao and the black-clad man with the judge's brush remained in the spacious courtyard.
Cao Shao's arrogant demeanor vanished as he quickly approached the black-clad man. "Good sir, would you trouble yourself to inform your master that Lu Wuxie has been captured!"
The black-clad man glanced at Cao Shao, seemingly disgusted by his servile demeanor. He gave a contemptuous "En," uttered, "Keep a close eye on him," and turned to leave the courtyard.
In the dim, abandoned side room, cobwebs abounded.
Occasionally, a draft of wind blew through the holes in the walls, stirring up a cloud of dust that made people cough incessantly.
"Cough cough!" Cao Shao covered his mouth and coughed a few times, waving his hand in disgust. "What are you still waiting for? Clean this place up!"
After he spoke, several subordinates began to get busy.
Once the room was tidied to a passable state, Cao Shao finally placed the cup of clear tea he held on the table and slowly walked towards Lu Wuxie, who was bound tightly to a pillar in the room.
"Splash him awake!" Cao Shao smacked his lips, his face full of arrogance as he commanded.
As his words fell, a basin of cold water was doused over Lu Wuxie from head to toe.
"Ugh... cough cough!" Lu Wuxie, who was unconscious, choked on the water, startling him into a few coughs as he slowly regained consciousness.
In his daze, he saw Cao Shao opposite him, staring at him with a smirk.
"Your Highness, I bet you never thought you'd see this day?" Cao Shao, like a peacock with its tail feathers spread, puffed out his chest and swaggered, looking at him. After all, it wasn't something every lowly county magistrate could have the honor of doing – holding a royal relative of the Southern Yue Kingdom captive.
Lu Wuxie glanced at him and sneered, turning his head away.
Cao Shao, easily provoked, saw his reaction and his face turned a shade of green and red. He snatched a stick from one of his subordinates and struck Lu Wuxie's abdomen with it.
"Ugh..." Lu Wuxie gritted his teeth, blood slowly seeping from between them.
"Your Highness, I didn't realize you had such backbone?" Cao Shao said with a chilling, gnashing smile.
Lu Wuxie gave him a dismissive look and ignored him completely.
Cao Shao, aware of his own low status, couldn't stand Lu Wuxie's contemptuous gaze and became even more enraged. He grabbed Lu Wuxie's chin, forcing him to look at him.
However, Lu Wuxie simply gazed down at him. Although his face was bruised and battered, it couldn't hide the proud glint in his eyes, which only fueled Cao Shao's own sense of inferiority.
"Lu Wuxie! Do you truly believe you are still Your Highness, or do you think you can walk out of Rain County alive?" Cao Shao's ferocious gaze bore down on Lu Wuxie, demanding an answer.
Lu Wuxie remained silent.
Completely ignored, the last shred of restraint within Cao Shao vanished. Enraged, he flung the stick aside, snatched a torch from one of his men, and charged towards Lu Wuxie.